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Ducklings and Goslings - beware of parents!

Earlier this week I spotted a mother duck and her brood of ducklings in the water at the north end of Columbia Island. This morning there were several geese and their goslings as the southern end of Columbia Island (on the Marina side of the trail). None were on the main trail, so I managed to avoid being attacked, but based on previous years' experiences, this might alter.

So, be aware that the ducklings and goslings are out as are their protective parents and move cautiously around them.

There's a huge amount of shattered glass on all three overpasses on the MVT around the Crystal City connector / Airport. I rode through it all stupidly and seem to have gotten lucky. Don't be like me.

Yep, it was ridiculous. I recommend reporting it, maybe NPS will send someone to clean it up since it was VERY hazardous--it was covering the whole trail on both overpasses. https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/contacts.htm

Does DC have a similar glass reporting set up? There's been glass on G street in the de facto right side bike lane between 20th and 21st for a few weeks now. I've had to essentially run the red light there to get out in front of cars to skirt around it.

What's up with the detour around the construction zone at Potomac Ave and E Glebe? It looked like it was obstructed by work vehicles and signs this morning. Kind of a dumb detour anyway, I just took the lane northbound on Potomac until I could cross over to the trail behind the shopping center. But shouldn't there be safe off-street passage?

Thanks you for bringing this to our attention. I was not aware of this problem until now. I will take three actions as a result of this email; alert United States Park Police (USPP), South district ranger staff and deputy chief of maintenance. Please clarifiy one thing....I assume it's happening at this bridge. Is that correct?

My immediate reaction is that this should be an internal coordinated effort to gather information.

As you probably know, we work very closely with USPP for law enforcement issues. If what your suggesting is true, that this is a malicious act we're going to need to have them involved for investigative purposes.

The south district supervisor can and will inform his staff to be on the look out for this behavior. Luckily starting on June 7th, we'll have some extra eyes and ears on the trail in the form of 4 Student Conservation Association interns. The SD supervisor directs their work and will assigned them to keep tabs on this action.

Maintenance is key, obviously for clean up, but also coordination. If we know how often the glass is laid, then cleaned, it will help to narrow the investigation.

More to come...Please, if this continues to happen, or if the pattern changes let me know. I'll do the best I can to keep you informed of the investigation.

I dont think I suggested it was malicious (even though that was my thought...) This is what I sent:Hi, there is a ridiculous amount of shattered glass all over the Mount Vernon Trail on the overpasses by the airport. Can someone please clean this up? I saw multiple cyclists down fixing flat tires caused by the glass, and pedestrians are having problems getting around it since the shards are covering everything on the overpasses. This is really dangerous since there is no way around the glass. The glass is covering the trail on BOTH trail overpasses by the airport. Thanks Best, Erin